Extracts from the Report of the Educational Secretary of the Southern Union Conference
By J. E. Tenney
It is well understood that much time and effort have been lost in the past through lack of system and unity of action. An invaluable aid in attaining this desired system and unity in our work were the conventions held at East Lake, Tenn., and at Huntsville, Ala., during the past summer. These meetings demonstrated the importance of concerted action both in studying the situation and in laying plans for the overcoming of difficulties and the introducing of better methods. The convention exercised much care in the selection of text-books, and gradually these are coming into general use. Thus far the department has issued thirty-six certificates; twenty of these being to white teachers, and sixteen (by the request of the Southern Missionary Society) to colored teachers. Other plans and recommendations are receiving attention. About one year ago sets of examination questions were sent by the department to intermediate schools and other schools having pupils in or above the eighth grade. A larger proportion of our teachers hold the diploma of one of our training-schools than ever before. It is not too much to say that the efficiency of our teaching force has doubled within the last four or five years. There has been an encouraging increase in the length of school terms and in the number of pupils enrolled. The Southern Training-school has enrolled eighty-eight students during the year, and many of these are of mature minds, and have come to the school with a definite purpose. The average age of students is nineteen years. The Oakwood Manual Training-school has enrolled sixty pupils the present year, whose average age is twenty-five years. The Nashville Agricultural and Normal Institute enrolled seventy-seven students last year. The average age of these was twenty-four years. There are five intermediate schools for white students in the union conference, and there are two for the colored. The different conferences in the union report schools as follows:—
The total number as reported by conferences ........ 44
Total enrolment in these schools . . 815
Average length of term ...... 6¼ mon.
Total number of pupils in fifth grade and above ............ 408
Average teachers' wage in South $20.30
Total attendance at our three training-schools ................ 225
Attendance at other schools not included in conference reports ... 152
Total attendance ........................................ 1,102